Was it real?

The moment Rayaan left the café, a weight seemed to settle in the air. The anger that had surged through Mona's body only moments before began to ebb away, replaced by something else. Something more unsettling. She stood there, her chest heaving with each breath, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She had shouted at Rayaan, slapped him until his skin bled, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed in him.

As he turned away, Mona caught a glimpse of his eyes—eyes that were filled with a strange mixture of disappointment and sadness. It was a look she hadn't seen from him in a long time. His expression spoke volumes, and it shook her in a way she hadn't expected. Rayaan had always been a mystery to her, but for the first time, his eyes betrayed something deeper, something vulnerable. And that vulnerability hit her harder than anything else.

Mona's heart ached, the pain of it cutting through her like a jagged knife. She knew she wasn't supposed to care. He had hurt her too many times. He had manipulated her, betrayed her, and used her trust as a weapon. Yet, as much as she tried to suppress the emotions bubbling inside her, she couldn't help but feel something stir within her chest. The anger that had been so fierce moments ago was now tainted with a quiet sadness—a deep, gnawing ache.

Her mind raced as memories of their time together flooded her thoughts. The laughter they once shared, the moments of tenderness that had been few and far between, but still so precious to her. She remembered how she had tried so hard to make things work, how she had given so much of herself to him. And now, she was left with nothing but broken pieces. Her heart was torn between the rage she felt for him and the love that still lingered, refusing to fade.

"Why do I still feel this way?" Mona whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. The pain in her chest was overwhelming, and the tears began to well up in her eyes, despite all her efforts to hold them back. She had spent so much time convincing herself that she had moved on from Rayaan, that she was stronger now, that she didn't need him. But in that moment, standing in the aftermath of their confrontation, Mona realized just how deeply the wound ran. How much she still cared for him, despite everything.

Faaz and Sophie noticed the shift in Mona's demeanor. Her anger had dissolved, replaced by a quiet sorrow that seemed to weigh her down. They exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to comfort her. Gargi, who had been silently watching from the sidelines, stepped forward, her expression softening with understanding. She could see the pain in Mona's eyes, and it broke her heart to know that her friend was suffering in silence.

"Let me talk to her," Gargi said softly, her voice gentle but firm. "She needs someone right now."

Sophie nodded, grateful for Gargi's empathy. "We'll stay close. We won't leave her alone."

With a nod, Gargi made her way to where Mona was sitting, her back turned to everyone else. She could feel the heavy silence in the room, the tension that hung in the air. Mona was staring at the floor, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup absentmindedly. Gargi sat down next to her, offering a comforting presence without saying a word at first.

It was only when the silence became too much to bear that Mona spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I act really strong around my sister because I want to be an example to her. I want her to look up to me, to think I'm someone who has it all together," Mona confessed, her voice cracking. "But the truth is, I'm just human. I'm allowed to break down too. I want to be the sister who loves her the most, but right now... I feel like I've failed."

Tears welled up in Mona's eyes again, and Gargi's heart ached for her. She placed a hand on Mona's shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "You're not failing anyone, Mona. You're allowed to feel this way. You're allowed to cry, to be angry, to be hurt. You don't have to be perfect."

Mona shook her head, her hands trembling as she wiped at her eyes. "I tell everyone that I've moved on from Rayaan, that I'm strong enough to let go. But I haven't. I haven't moved on at all. Because when you love someone truly, it doesn't just disappear. It stays with you. Even when they hurt you. Even when they treat you like you don't matter. It stays." She paused, taking in a shaky breath before continuing, her voice breaking. "I still love him. I always will."

Gargi's heart clenched in her chest. "Mona, you don't have to love someone who doesn't love you back. You don't have to hold onto that hurt."

"I know," Mona whispered, her voice filled with defeat. "But love isn't a joke, Gargi. It's not something you can just forget. Once you love someone, you can't just turn it off. I've tried so hard to forget him, to move on, but every time I think I've let go, something pulls me back. And now... now I feel like I've lost myself in all of this."

Gargi sat in silence for a moment, her heart aching for her friend. "You haven't lost yourself, Mona. You're just going through a really hard time right now. It's okay to grieve, to feel this pain. But you're not alone. We're here for you. You don't have to carry this burden by yourself."

Sidra, who had been quietly listening nearby, walked over and joined the conversation. "Gargi's right, Mona. You don't have to do this alone. We've got your back."

Mona nodded, her tears still falling freely. "I don't know what to do anymore. I'm so angry at him, but I can't stop caring about him. I don't even know if I want to move on. Part of me still hopes that one day... he'll change. But I know that's not going to happen."

Just then, the door creaked open slightly, and Faaz stepped into the room. He had been standing outside, listening to the conversation, and his heart had been breaking for Mona. He had known that she was in pain, but hearing her confess everything she had been holding inside hit him harder than he expected. He walked in quietly, his gaze softening as he looked at her.

Mona didn't notice him at first, too consumed by her emotions. But as she looked up, she saw Faaz standing in the doorway, his expression filled with concern. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, there was a silent understanding between them. Faaz took a step forward, his voice low and gentle. "Mona, I know you're hurting. And I know you still care about him, but please—don't let him control your life. Don't let him define your worth."

Mona's tears continued to fall as she looked at Faaz. "I don't know how to stop loving him, Faaz. I don't know if I even want to."

Faaz walked over and sat next to her, his hand resting gently on her back. "You don't have to stop loving him right away. But you need to start loving yourself more. You deserve more than what Rayaan has given you."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. But Mona knew, deep down, that she wasn't alone. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.